But Hocking still believed she had plenty to prove after a disappointing Delhi Games (100m and 200m fourth) and Olympics (100m 7th; 200m semis) at what loomed as her second and final Commonwealth Games.

And for fans in the stands alarm bells were ringing when Hocking was dead last after the first 50m of Sunday night's final.

However, she demonstrated her new found confidence to power through the field and add gold to the 100m breaststroke bronze she claimed on Saturday night.

"You can have people telling you for years 'you can do it' but until you stand on the blocks and know yourself, that's where true confidence comes from," she said.

"I always watched from the stands watching people sing the anthem on top of the podium.

"So this is an unbelievable experience and one I will never take for granted."